Tag: TUF 10

("Yeah, the sushi did taste a little funny. Why do you ask?" Photo courtesy of theLas Vegas Sun.)

Some choice quotes from recent interviews promoting The Ultimate Fighter 10: Heavyweights, which premieres September 16th…

Kimbo Slice on piss-soaked fruit trays: "(If someone pulls a prank on him similar to stunts from past shows) there’s gonna be gun play, but fortunately for them I couldn’t bring my pistol. That’s a whole another level. Silver bracelets (handcuffs) if you feel me."

Zak Jensen – standout wrestler at Augsburg CollegeMarcus Jones – former 1st round NFL draft pick who had a six-year career with the Tampa Bay BuccaneersScott Junk – Division II All-American football player at Southwest Oklahoma State and fought in UFC 76.James McSweeney – former international kickboxing and Muay Thai championJohn Madsen – defeated Brock Lesnar in a high school wrestling matchMatt Mitrione – played for New York Giants and Minnesota VikingsRoy Nelson – former IFL Heavyweight ChampionDemico Rogers – high school football and wrestling starBrendan Schaub – played for Buffalo Bills and Arena Football’s Utah BlazeDarrill Schoonover – decorated Army veteranWes Shivers – former member of the Tennessee Titans and Atlanta FalconsWes Sims – fought two heated battles with former UFC champ Frank Mir at UFC 43 and UFC 46Kimbo Slice – former EliteXC heavyweight contender and YouTube sensationAbe Wagner – played linebacker at Michigan Tech and has a degree in mechanical engineeringMike Wessel – UFC veteran and former strength and conditioning coach at University of ArkansasJustin Wren – All-American high school wrestler

“He came in hungry. In my eyes, he came in hungry like he was before the Tank Abbott fight. It was a pleasure for me to see…We sparred every single day. We did not do that in the past. Because he had so much to learn, so many more technical things that Bas was showing him, he really didn’t have time to spar…As far as what happened before, he’s just got to take his loss and move forward…I told him the best revenge is success. He needs to go out there and show all those people that don’t like him and talk bad about him, even Dana White, go out there and be successful and everybody will forget all those things that happened to him. The biggest thing is that he’s mentally there, and he’s ready to go."— Boxing coach Randy Khatami discusses his reunion with Kimbo Slice after a six-month layoff. Kimbo had stopped training at Elite MMA with Khatami after a falling-out with the gym’s co-ownerBas Rutten. By the way, rumors of more confirmed TUF 10 castmembers are coming out of the woodwork, including Justin Wren and "Big" Jim York.

Though the UFC is keeping the cast of TUF 10 under wraps for the most part, MMA Junkie is reporting that four of the 16 heavyweight hopefuls did time in the NFL before taking up fighting. Here’s a cheat sheet:

Marcus Jones: First-round draft pick for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1996; spent six seasons as a defensive tackle, then moved to the Buffalo Bills for two years but didn’t play in the regular season. Training out of Gracie Tampa with Rob Kahn, the 35-year-old made his professional MMA debut in October 2007, and now holds a 4-1 record, with all fights ending in the first round.

"We shot episode one today. He walked into the gym and was, ah…lemme tell you what, he was pretty serious. He wasn’t messing around, he wasn’t joking. He wasn’t laughing. I don’t think he’s a big Dana White fan, either. You know, how could you be after all the things that have gone back and forth? So we’re gonna find out this season if he’s for real or not…

I said a lot of things about this guy, and I’m gonna tell you now, just like I would, I’ve got nothing but respect for him. This guy stepped up and he wants to fight on The Ultimate Fighter. And he’s dead serious about winning this thing too."